Missouri University of Science and Technology will celebrate Black History Month with a variety of activities of interest to the campus community.

“This year’s theme is ‘A Meeting Point,'” says Erin Hood, program administrator for leadership and cultural programs at Missouri S&T. “We want people to understand that black history is everyone’s history.”

Hood says the kick-off on Monday, Feb. 1, and the wrap-up party on Friday, Feb. 26, are open to the public. “We really hope the community comes out for the wrap-up,” she says. “It will be a great event.”

The following Black History Month events are planned:

• “A Meeting Point: Black History Month 2010,” 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 1, in the Havener Center atrium. This kick-off event features music, pictorial displays honoring prominent people and events, and an opportunity to learn more about S&T’s historically black student organizations.
• “Should we have a Black History Month?,” noon-1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3, in the Turner Room of the Havener Center. Join the Black Men’s Think Tank and the Black History Month Committee for this discussion.
• Movie: The Great Debaters, 8-10 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, in Room 199 Toomey Hall. There will be a discussion following the film. This event is sponsored by the Student Union Board and the Black History Month Committee.
• “Visionary Global Leadership and the N-word Controversy,” 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, in the Carver-Turner Room of the Havener Center. Join national speaker Lasana Hotep for this high energy and thoughtful presentation. This event is co-sponsored by the Black History Month Committee and the Chancellor’s Committee on Diversity and Inclusion.
• “Lessons Learned from Great Black Leaders,” noon-1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17, in the Turner Room of the Havener Center. This leadership development workshop will provide tips for success from some of the great black leaders of the past and present.
• “Speak UP, Speak OUT” discussion, 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17, in the Meramec-Gasconade Room of the Havener Center. The Miner Mentors will lead this session, titled “10 Things Everyone Should Know About Race.” The concept of race is relatively new and is surrounded by numerous myths. Join the discussion and help dispel some of them.
• Documentary: Traces of the Trade, 8-10 p.m. Monday, Feb. 22, in Room 125 Butler-Carlton Civil Engineering Hall. A discussion will follow this story of a white family that traces the roots of its New England ancestors, the largest slave-trading family in U.S. history, to its ancestors in Africa. The film raises tough questions about the legacy of slavery for whites, blacks and others; and who is responsible for the sins of the fathers of this country.
• Lecture: “Before BROWN: The Supreme Court and the Integration of Southern Higher Education,” by Dr. David Levy, the 2010 Maxwell C. Weiner Distinguished Professor of Humanities at Missouri S&T, beginning at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24, in the Carver-Turner Room of the Havener Center. The lecture is sponsored by S&T’s history and political science department.
• “A Meeting Point: Black History Month 2010 Celebration,” 6-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26, in Leach Theater of Castleman Hall. This free wrap-up celebration and reflection will include entertaining and inspirational student performances and some special guests. A reception will follow the event.
• Dinner to Jazz, a night of great food and music, from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, in the St. Pat’s Ballroom of the Havener Center. The event is sponsored by the Association for Black Students and S&T’s student diversity programs. Tickets are $15 each and are available through Feb. 26 in the Havener Center atrium and at the door of the event.

Missouri S&T’s Black History Month Committee includes representatives from the Association for Black Students, Voices of Inspiration, Black Men’s Think Tank, the Residence Hall Association, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, the National Society of Black Engineers, the African Students Association, Student Council, Alpha Phi Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, the department of student life and the department of leadership and cultural programs. For more information about S&T’s Black History Month events, contact Hood at hoodel@mst.edu.